Within a few minutes of each other on Wednesday, Larry Usselman, of Harrisburg, and then Miranda Crotsley, of Harrisburg, correctly identified this week's Mystery Species as the eastern hemlock, official state tree of Pennsylvania. Usselman is a repeat winner, previously identifying the fish crow from our clues.

Several other readers followed throughout Wednesday with the correct answer.

Mystery Species will continue next week. Each day, Monday through Friday, a different clue about our mystery species will be offered here on the blog. The identity of the mystery species will be revealed on Saturday. However, if you come up with the answer before that, send it with your full name, address and telephone number to mschneck@comcast.net. The first person to make the identification will bring the contest to a close for the week and be identified with the correct answer.